today it is this song.

Virginia by David Bazan, from the album Strange Negotiations.

the philosophy department is having a ‘variety show’ this Friday. i overheard the organizers talking and apparently ‘talent show’ wasn’t inclusive enough. 

this might be funnier for you if your lunch was frequently disrupted by self-important budding catholic philosophers.

is this tumblr is turning into a Damien Jurado fan page? maybe. there are worse things, i suppose.

6. The Spiral Staircase: My Climb Out of Darkness by Karen Armstrong

I really enjoy what Karen Armstrong has to say in general. She’s incredibly intelligent and thoughtful. This is a memoir about her time as nun (and after she left the convent). Given my fascination with nuns and monastic life, I found this book really enjoyable and compelling. Here are some quotes that made note of at the time when I read it (which i think was 2 years ago now).

“If you are bent on proving that your own tradition alone is correct, and pour scorn on all other points of view, you are interjecting self and egotism into your study, and the texts will remain closed.” [from page 288]

and another goodie,

“Most would agree with the Greek Orthodox that any statement about God had to have two characteristics. It must be paradoxical, to remind us that God cannot be contained in a neat, coherent system of thought; and it must be apophatic, that is, it should lead us to a moment of silent awe or wonder, because when we are speaking of the reality of God we are at the end of what words or thoughts can usefully do.” [from page 292]*

*a side note, I was first introduced to the idea of apophatic, or negative, theology in a course on Judaism in college. The seed was planted then, some 10 years ago, and I find myself compelled by it now more and more.

I am currently reading her book A History of God which is crazy dense but pretty interesting, for sure.

Here are some more resources relating to Karen Armstrong:

• From APM’s Krista Tippet’s On Being/Speaking of Faith: The Freelance Monotheism of Karen Armstrong [another side note: I love that term, “freelance monotheism”]
• From NPR’s Fresh Air: Religion Scholar Karen Armstrong - here she talks about the memoir.

more books i like: the memoir:

number one

number two

number three

number four

number five

Write me a song I can sing in my sleep 
As sure as the rain that will fall where you stand
I want you and the skyline these are my demands”

*from this song from Damien Jurado’s new album Maraqopa. I cannot get it out of my head today. and i’m perfectly ok with that.

1. That’s Right  [by Girl Talk  album:  All Day]   
2. When We Fell  [by David Bazan  album:  Curse Your Branches]    
3. Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings [by Father John Misty album: Fear Fun]             
4. White Tooth Man [by Iron & Wine  album:  The Shepard’s Dog]   
5. Museum of Flight  [by  Damien Jurado  album: Maraqopa]  
6. I Don’t Wanna Hear It  [by  J Roddy Walston And The Business]
7. Wolves At The Door [by David Bazan  album:  Strange Negotiations]
8. SexyBack  [by Justin Timberlake  album:  FutureSex / LoveSounds]

Let me say that the transition was from the Girl Talk track to the David Bazan track was fantastic. i mean, brilliant.

also of note on this and many runs in DC (particularly through woodley park). if you, dear pedestrian, get in my way, chances are i might plow into you. this is not because i’m a jerk*, but rather not a great runner, so stopping or dramatic slow downs are not preferred.

*i might be a bit a of a jerk

regardless of working full time, finishing graduate school, and looking for another full time job when the current one runs out, i find i must read. for me. not about cataloging or information analysis. or whatever. i just want to read something interesting and intellectually stimulating for pleasure.

so, who do i read for fun?

weird shit about fundamentalist Christianity.

you know, something light.

I’ve got this book waiting at the local library for me:

Jesus Land: A Memoir

by Julie Scheeres

more about it here

…or one of my favorite professors. of all time. on one of the best local npr stations. of all time. since i (apparently) love going to school so much and listening to public radio, this says something.

it’s Dr. Jason Bivins, religion professor from NC State University on WUNC’s State of Things,

talking about one of my favorite topics of all time: religious conservatism and politics.

check it out.